Appreciation of Art and Scienc

One needs both art and science to be fulfilled. If we see a play the lighting is manipulated and the props are measured and cut to a certain size. In music there is rhythm and time. In architecture there is measurement and surveying. If art is focused upon more than science or science is focused upon more than art there will not be an equal balance of appreciation between the two fields. There is no art without science. There is no song without pitch and tone and volume. There is no theater without costumes and measurements and carefully designed sets. Art and science should be equally appreciated because each has a great deal to offer.

Music is both an artistic and a scientific form. It is enjoyable, relaxing, and entertaining to sit in a concert hall and hear the rich sounds of an orchestra or a beautiful operatic aria. However, there is a great amount of work that must be done before the operatic singer can stand on a stage and open her mouth to sing in front of an audience. She must learn how to sing her notes on time. This is called rhythm. Rhythm in music involves a steady process of counting and playing or singing when appropriate. There are many “rests” involved where performers must wait and let other instrumentalists or singers perform their part. This organization is what makes up the harmony and beauty we hear today in music. An operatic singer must also learn pitch. This is the art of singing high or low. There is an Italian system for this involving many variations of volume and pitch and tone. Her music must be rhythmic and in harmony with the orchestra around her in order to sound in tune and to present a good performance. The orchestra must also pay attention to harmony. They must play as one, starting and stopping together and on time. When a piece calls for high volume (ff), the orchestra must play loudly. When the piece calls for softness(pp), they must play very softly. Of course there are many variations of loud and soft, such as medium loud and loud soft, but all of these elements are paid close attention during and before a musical performance.

There is also science in architecture and landscaping. There are lush, scenic gardens and parks , famous for their timeless beauty and sense appeal. This is not by accident. A great deal of detailed, thoughtful planning was necessary to create these works of wonder. Designs were drawn and redrawn for the layout of these gardens and scenic areas. Measurements were made . Width, length, volume, and various other geometrical and mathematical concepts were applied in the making of these plans. Sketches were drawn. Calculators, computers, and measuring devices were employed in this construction. The process for creating gardens, parks, and buildings that we look upon today with awe and wonder was not an easy one. It was a very involved, tedious process that required a lot of patience, hard work, and dedication . But it was completed and it could not have been completed without the use of scientific and mathematical concepts and techniques.

Finally, there is art and science in theater and its production. The performers on stage wear costumes. These costumes are measured, cut, sewn, designed, and fitted for the performers. There are shoes and hats and scarves and dresses and shirts and pants. There are also props in a theater production. These props are constructed very carefully and efficiently. They must be measured and planned to fit the stage area and various acts and scenes in the play. There is also lighting involved in a theatrical production. The lights on stage are manipulated at various intervals to present the ideal mood and setting for each scene. Sound is also used in these productions. There are loud sounds. There are soft sounds. There is rhythm in these sounds. These sounds are used to convey moods, climaxes and events throughout the performance. A play would not be a play without sound, costumes, lighting or props. There is certainly a great deal of science involved in planning out the productions we see in theaters and playhouses today. And it should be realized and appreciated.

In conclusion, art and science complement one another in that there cannot be one without the other and each builds upon the other in a correlative way. There is so much to be appreciated in the art form and it cannot be fully appreciated or recognized without acknowledgement of the scientific role played in creating it.